Formal Dining Room Furniture — Choosing The Right Dining Table Shape

The most important piece of formal dining room furniture you will buy is your dining room table. But there is more to choosing the right shape than just going by what you prefer. You need to keep the shape of your dining room in mind, and how many people you will be seating around the table. Here’s ho to choose the right shape.

Rectangle
These are the most common type of dining tables and tend to look the most formal. This shape is great for seating a larger number of people, and many come with a leaf do you can extend the length of the table. The ideal measurements for a rectangular dining table are between 36 and 42 inches across.

If the table is narrower than 36 inches, this can work if your dining room is also narrow. But, it may be a challenge to fit place settings on both sides of the table and have enough room left over to place food. You can get a sideboard, and use that to place the food on so guests can help themselves before they sit down, or you can serve food from it to each guest individually.

Square
If your dining room is square, then a dining table that is square will look the best. A square table is also a better choice when you have fewer people to seat, as it provides a more intimate seating arrangement because everyone around the table can see each other. For larger gatherings, you can group two square tables together to create a rectangular table, or you can also find square tables that have extensions.

Round
Some people don’t consider round when looking for formal dining room furniture, but if you have a smaller room or a square room then a round dining table will look and function wonderfully. If you tend to have small gatherings or want to use the room frequently, then a round table offers a similar cozy, intimate feel that a square table does. For larger gatherings, you can get a round table with a leaf.

If you have a narrower room, then an oval table is a nice choice. it is similar to a rectangular table, but it is visually softer and less dominating in a room because the corners are rounded rather than sharp.

Whatever type or shape of formal dining room furniture you choose, always remember to measure the room and leave enough space for people to sit comfortably and move around easily. On average, you want about 20 inches of depth for a dining room chair plus 16 or so inches for people to push back from the table. Each diner needs at least 24 inches for sitting around the table, and to serve you will want to have at least 46 inches of space between the table and the wall so you can move around easily.